Jaw Pain
Common Causes and Your Treatment Options
Some common causes of jaw pain include:
- Wisdom Teeth – Impacted or erupting wisdom teeth can cause jaw pain, especially if they are misaligned or causing crowding. If your pain stems from wisdom teeth issues, removing the problem teeth can often alleviate discomfort.
- Bruxism – this is a condition where people grind or clench their teeth. It can be a problem only in the muscles of mastication around the mouth and not affecting the joint resulting in bulging muscles, trigger points or pain and damage to the teeth.
- TMJ Problems – Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are characterised by pain in the jaw joint and surrounding facial areas that can cause dysfunction such as limited opening, clicking or locking of the joints. These disorders may require therapies such as oral appliances or physical therapy to manage pain effectively.
- Toothaches—Severe toothaches, often associated with dental abscesses, infections or inflammation, or other dental problems, may radiate pain to the jaw. These problems may require fillings, root canals, or extractions to correct the issue and relieve the pain.
- Sinus Infections—Sinus infections often cause pain in the jaw area, mimicking dental-related pain. Managing sinus infections can help reduce pain in this area.
Options for care depend on the root cause of the pain and may include extraction, oral appliances such as a nightguard splint, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes. Procedures like root canals, fillings, or extractions can relieve jaw pain and address toothaches or other dental issues. Sinus infections may require medication or other interventions to reduce referred jaw pain.
Relationship Between Misaligned Teeth/Jaws and Jaw Pain
Another factor that may contribute to jaw pain is misaligned teeth or mismatched jaw sizes. It affects daily activities such as eating, speaking and even breathing and may also cause long-term dental complications. When teeth don’t align correctly either by their position in the jaws or the relationship of the jaws to each other, issues like bite problems, difficulty chewing, headaches, jaw clicking or popping, tooth wear, increased risk of tooth loss, ear symptoms like ringing or popping, and challenges with speaking may occur.
Time to Seek Professional Dental Care
If you experience persistent or severe jaw pain, it’s time to seek professional dental care. Our experienced team will diagnose the underlying cause of your jaw pain and recommend appropriate treatments to restore comfort and function.
Don’t let jaw pain affect your quality of life. Contact us today for personalised dental care and relief from jaw discomfort.
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